Gary J. Volesky

Gary J. Volesky
Born (1961-09-07) September 7, 1961
Spokane, Washington[1]
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Army
Rank Major general
Commands held 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars Gulf War
Iraq War
War in Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom
Operation Inherent Resolve

Gary J. Volesky (born September 7, 1961) is a United States Army major general who serves as commander of the 101st Airborne Division and commander of the American ground forces in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.[2]

Biography

A native of Spokane, Washington, Volesky graduated from Ferris High School in 1979. In 1983, he earned a bachelor's degree in military science from Eastern Washington University.[3] He followed this with a Master's degree in Near and Middle Eastern Studies from Princeton University. He graduated from the United States Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and earned another master's degree at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama.[4]

He served in the Gulf War, Iraq War and War in Afghanistan. He earned the Silver Star for his actions on 4 April 2004 – later known as "Black Sunday" – that began the Siege of Sadr City.[5]

He served as the U.S. Army's Chief of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C.[6] prior to being appointed commander of the 101st Airborne Division in June 2014.

In 2015, he was deployed with the 101st to Liberia to help the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) with the ebola crisis by building treatment facilities and to train aid workers.[1]

He is currently commander of the American ground forces in Iraq as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve.

Awards and decorations

Volesky is the recipient of the following awards:

Distinguished Service Medal, Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (4 OLC), Purple Heart, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (1 OLC), Army Commendation Medal (4 OLC), Army Achievement Medal (1 OLC), National Defense Service Medal (1 bronze star), Southwest Asia Service Medal (3 bronze stars), Afghan Campaign Medal (2 bronze stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (3 bronze stars), Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (5th Award).[4]

References

  1. 1 2 Caster, Brian (15 October 2016). "'We Are Fighting an Enemy, and the Enemy Is Ebola'". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  2. ↑ "Department of Defense Press Briefing by Army Maj. Gen. Gary J. Volesky". U.S. Department of Defense. 19 October 2016. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  3. ↑ Carper, Kandi (15 October 2014). "Volesky's Rendezvous with Destiny". Eastern Magazine. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Major General Gary J. Volesky" (PDF). Fort Campbell. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  5. ↑ Lawrence-Turner, Jody (15 March 2014). "Maj. Gen. Gary Volesky, EWU alumnus, to lead Army's storied 101st Airborne Division". The Spokesman-Review. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
  6. ↑ Raddatz, Martha; Coolidge, Richard; Phelps, Jordyn (19 March 2013). "10 years later: Brig. Gen. Volesky on the sacrifices and progress made in the Iraq War". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 5 November 2016.
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